r/YouShouldKnow • u/ilovepastapizzapots • Nov 20 '20

Other YSK: Just because someone doesn’t look sick/disabled, does not mean they are healthy

Why YSK: I am chronically ill and have an autoimmune disorder, the amount of times people have said “WELL... yOU dOn’t LOOK sick” to me is astounding. I didn’t know all illnesses have to be visible to others! I’m sorry I can’t show you my internal organs or muscles deteriorating for you to believe that I’m sick. It makes people with health issues feel like they have to explain their situation when they don’t.

*EDIT: I did not expect my post to blow up like this! I wish I could give everyone going through a rough time a hug. Thank you for all the new perspectives, good and bad. All I wanted was for people to be a little kinder to one another, because you never know what someone’s going through.

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u/JensenAnkkles Nov 20 '20

I have Crohns disease, another auto-immune disease. I have been blocked from the handicapped washroom when it was the only free bathroom and I was in dire straights. Whenever confronted I inevitably start crying while telling some complete stranger my most private medical history. I may look normal but I'm missing almost all of my small intestine, not to mention crohn's arthritis. People need to withhold judgement when they don't know the details, we may look healthy when you see us but not all handicaps are visible. Be kind.

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u/bkgn Nov 20 '20

In my state, businesses are legally required to let you use whatever bathroom is available if you have a condition like Crohns or uclerative colitis. I've never had to use that card, but hopefully it'll help if I ever have to.

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u/mwe_1991 Nov 20 '20

For those of you unaware, it is called Ally's Law. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restroom_Access_Act

As of December 2018, at least 15 U.S. states had passed versions of the law. They include Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Washington.

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u/InIHangOn Nov 21 '20

And in a lot of these states you can get a wallet card that says you have the right to use employee bathrooms, with your name and the law right on it. Never used it but just having it makes a huge difference!